 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
|
||||
|
UP IN ARMS ARCHIVES June 2005
|
|
||||
 |
THE STORY OF THE MONTHAugust 2005 "What I Shot On My Summer Vacation " by Mike Magnum Howdy folks. Well, it’s summer around the old Magnum homestead, and that means one thing: summer vacation! This year, we made our way out to Disneyland, but we had a problem. At the gate, a security guard stopped us. He said we looked a little too “dangerous.” I wasn’t sure what he meant until I looked back at my family. There, behind me, was my woman, proudly toting her Chinese assault rifle (which I got her for her birthday a while back). And my son, carrying his favorite dual pistols (the ones with the silver handles with “Mike Jr.” engraved on them). And of course my little girl, with her little sawed off shotgun, fully loaded and ready to go. I got the feeling that maybe the security guard meant we couldn’t bring our guns inside! “But it’s the happiest place on earth!” I told him. “How do you expect us to be happy without our guns? And what if we need to protect ourselves? You know, from Mickey, or Goofy! I heard Donald runs around without any pants on!” He just laughed and laughed at us the whole time they escorted us off the premises. Which is why we decided to go somewhere else this year.
But as much fun as we had, the kids seemed to have even more. Not right away, though. First they had to trudge through a few gun safety sessions. “Stop. Don’t touch. Leave the area.” At least that’s what the boring old instructor told them under buzzing florescent lights in a stuffy room on campus. They probably got lectured at for an hour or two about how firearms must be kept safe and that general firearm practice requires mediation, responsiveness, and a sizable donation to the NRA.
Our experiences at the camp, in fact, were pretty much like what I read in this article. Here’s everything my fourteen year old boy got to experience at the camp: .44 Magnum revolver, .44 magnum rifle, .22 rifle, .223 caliber rifle, .410 caliber, 20 and 12 gauge shotguns, AK-47 and M-16
And even though the kids haven’t seen the Grand Canyon, the Arch, or New York City, we think we might just take them back to Front Sight next year. Or we could go to any other of the shooting clubs that happily invites families to participate in their rabid gunplay. Like, for example, the luxurious Caribou Gun Club, where they invite young and old along on Sleigh and Hayrides! I wonder if you get to bring your AK-47 with you while riding in the hay! Plus, they have not one but two sixty foot towers, so the boy and I can bring our .50 caliber sniper rifle out there and practice our aim. The bullets will practically destroy any deer that we shoot, but if I just shot for the thrill of the hunt, I wouldn’t shoot at all, would I?
And don’t forget about the Tyler Gun Club, deep in the heart of Texas, where they’d love to instruct all members of your family on everything from skeet shootin’ to shotgunnin’. Just look at their concealed handgun training page, where they’ve posted a picture of one of their best concealed weapon students. What a guy! Cute as a button and deadly as the guns he loves to play with! Wherever we decide to go, I’m sure it’ll be a complete blast. And when we do go back, we’ll be sure to wear the neat hats we bought from Front Sight. Mike loves them, and he won’t shut up about wearing his to school when they start. He runs around the house, yelling out the text printed on the hat to all of us: “Take No Prisoners. Eat Their Wounded.” His mom and I just laugh and laugh at him. What a kid. Until next time I remain your humble servant, Mike Magnum Seen a story we haven't covered? Want to practice your mastery of disjointed emails chock full o' four letter words? Questions? Comments? Paper? Plastic? Email gunguymike@yahoo.com. |
 |
|
||
| |
|||||
|
Related Links |
|
||||
 |
|
||||
Yes, the Magnum clan ended up going to 
That’s not what I heard about from Mike Jr., though. He couldn’t stop talking about the five hours after the training, when my kids got to blow up targets with assault weapons. After those stuffy hours of training, they really went all out showing kids how neat it was to play with guns—Mike and Mindy really loved the shooting there. The wife and I are so happy Mike is showing a real interest in something! You know, besides knives.
Wow! All that at only age 14. I mean, I was at least 16 before I got to shoot my first M-16, and then it was only at stationary targets. What a lucky kid!
Then there’s 
